Apparatus for charging billets or bars into heating-furnaces



(No Model.)

l F. I-I. DANIELS.

APPARATUS TOR GHARGINS BILLETS 0S BARS INT0 HEATING TURNAGES,

No. 385,251. Patented June 26, 1888.

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N. PETERS, Pnowumogmpner. wnmngwn, D4 c.

Nrrnn STATES FRED H. DANIELS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,251, dated June Application tiled December 23, 1887. Serial No. 258,801. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that l, FRED H. DANIELs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State o1" Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Billets` or Bars into Heating Furnaces, &c., of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufciently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

The object-s of my present invention are, first, to provide mechanism for receiving metal bars or billets as vthey are delivered from a rolling-mill or other source of supply, and to charge them into a heating-furnace automatically by the action of a traveling carrier provided with means for engaging and advancing the bars delivered thereto; second, to provide in a charging apparatus an endless-belt carrier disposed entirely outside of the furnace and operating with a continuous forward revoluble action, adapted for advancing the billets at intervals, and for allowing the billets to remain at normally-backward position until the interval for action arrives; third, to provide an automatic charging mechanism with a hood or cover for inclosing the bars or billets while being charged to protect them from the cooling and oxidizing effect of the atmosphere; fourth, to provide an automatic charging apparatus having a movable carrier and a stationary hood or covering; iifth, to provide a charging apparatus having a travcling belt or chain carrier composed of a series of loosely-revoluble rollers, the journal supports or bearings of which are linked together, and upon which rollers the product to be charged is received and supported; sixth, to provide an apparatus for delivering and charging billets or bars in a furnace or rolling-mill plant,having means for the automatic delivery of the bars upon a movable carrier and for supporting and advancing the same, facilities for guiding the bars, and means for operating the carrier mechanism, whereby the apparatus is capable of continuous automatic action in the handling or charging of hot rolling-mill product. These objects I attain by mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of which are illustrated in the drawings and explained in the following description, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved charging apparatus, the side casings and furnace being shown in horizontal section and the delivering-way omitted. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of my charging apparatus, including but a `portion of the delivering-way and furnace. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section at linezz, Fig. l.

ln my improved charging apparatus I employ as a carrier a long endless chain or belt, G, disposed externally of but adjacent to the front of the furnace B and in line with the opening or doorway b. Said carrier-belt, with its accompanying mech anism, is supported by a suitable frame, A, and at the outer end of the chargingway l arrange a feeder or deliveryway, U, whereby billets or bars can be delivered thereon in heated condition, or directly as they come from the forming-rolls of a billet-rolling mill, or from any other source of supply, automatically or without handling by a personal attendant. The charging-belt is preferably made of a series of bars and rollers, D4, supported by bearings at their respective ends, which are hinged or'linked together to form an endlesschain, which is carried by sprocket-wheels L L', as indicated. rlhe rolleraxles are provided with truck-rolls a, that run on side bars or tracks, A, along` the supporting-frame, which tracks guide the belt or carrier C in a straight line and prevent it from sagging.

The rollers Dare arranged to turn loose on their aXles,and the outer end of the charging way is preferably `arranged somewhat lower than the end near the furnace, so that a bar, when placed upon said rollers,will by its own weight have a tendency to settle backward toward the outer end of the charger.

The shaft P of the sprocket-wheels Lis provided with a driving-pulley, l?, or other suitable means for applying thereto motive power for operating the mechanism. A clutch, P3, is preferably arranged in connection with the shaft P and pulley l?,for conveniently throwing the mechanism into and out of action. The carrier-belt C maybe operated by continuous or intermittent movement, as preferred.

At one or more intervals in the carrierchain IOO is provided a bar with an upwardly-projecting flange; or an abutment or barrier, C6, is sub stituted in place of the roller, which barrier extends above the level of the tops of the rollers to a sufficient distance for engaging the rear end of the billet or billets when lying upon the rollers, to project them forwardinto the furnace as the chain or endless carrier moves in that direction. Y

Guide-rolls T T are arranged .adjacent to the furnace-door b,as indicated,'between which rolls the billet is passedV on `its way into the furnace; The roll T is arranged somewhat farther back from the furnace than the roll T. The roll T supports the billet from beneath,so that it will clear the furnace-bottom,while the roll T- runs above the billet and prevents the rear end thereof from tilting up or rising from the carrier when the forward end has entered the furnace to an extent that would give preponderance forward to the roll T. The rolls T and T are preferably connected by the gears T2, and are driven by suitable gears, T3, from the sprocketwheel shaft P.

The' sides of the charger are incased or boxed in, as-at 1*]V E, and a-ioor or easing, E', is arranged beneath the upper portion of the carrier-belt. A cover or hood, F, is arranged over the carrier C, for inelosing the same and protecting the billets or bars from the oxidizing effects of the atmosphere, and for'maintaining the inherent heat of the metal while the billets a're in the charging apparatus. The

hood or covering F is preferably'made in sections and supported on the lower easing atf, so that it can be conveniently removed from the apparatus when desired, for allowing aecess to the carrier-`belt,loops f being provided thereon, into which to attach lifting devices for raising the hood.

Ahingedhood,F,isarranged over the rollsT T and fixed to the furnace or othersuitablesupport, which hood can be turned back for access to the rolls. The feature of a stationary inclosing-hood for covering and protecting the product, in combination with a movable carrier for advancing the billets, may be employed with beneficial results in charging apparatus wherein the carrier is of other construction than that herein shown-as, for instance,with a carrier such as described in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 254,788.

U indicates a feeder, roller-bed, or delivering-way, on which the billets are run from a billet -forming mill and delivered onto the charging-way or endless carrier C. Said delivering-way comprises a series of rolls, m, which can be geared and operated in any convenient manner to impart a forward longitudinal movement to the bar or product supported thereon, so as to project it forward onto the charging-belt C. Ahinged guard, I, at the end of the delivery-way serves to prevent the bars sliding backfrom the carrier C when the barrier C6 is making its forward circuit, and said guard is lifted by the barrier as it passes the position thereof, lifting therewith any bar that may be partially delivered at such time and allowing the barrier C6 to pass under it.

Y The delivery-way U is preferably inclosed by a cover or hood, W, as indicated. The roller-bed U may be of' any required length, according to the requirements of the rollingmill plant wherein it is employed. instance it is preferred,the charging apparatus can be employed without the delivering'way U, the billets or product being placed on the belt G by hand or by other means.

The operation of my improved charging ap- 8c paratus is as follows: The carrier or belt C being in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow, the billets or product are projected forward froml the delivery-way U beneath the covering F and fall: upon the rollers Dt, said rollers being free to run loose, and the belt bed ingginclined permits the billet to run back or settle down theincline untiltherear endthereof takes bearing against the guard l, (or barrier C,) where it remains normally' at backward 9o position until the interval of action arrives. The barrier CG as it advances with the forward movement of the carrier-belt is brought up beneath the guard Llifting thelatter from the ends of the billets, when said barrier engages the rear end of the billet, carrying it forward Y between the rolls TAT and shooting it into the furnace as the belt advances. While said barrier C is making its return along thelower halfof the belt-revolution another billet'or seloo ries of billets may be delivered or placed upon the carrierbelt, to be in turn engaged and projected forward as the barrier C6 again comes to the upper side and moves forward with the carrier-belt.

If a greater length of time is required for loading on the billets than that due to the regular and continuous revolution of the chain or belt C, the barrier C6 may be brought to its rearward position, and the movement of the Ixo belt then stopped for a short period of time, the motion given to the carrier-belt being intermittent instead of continuous. The momentum imparted to the billet by the forward movement of the mechanism is sufficient to throwv it from the end of the carrier into the furnace and deposit it at the proper position beyond the rolls T T and furnacedoor.

My improved apparatus can be employed for charging billets singly or in groups of two 1 2o or more billets placed side by side on the carricr.

I am aware that a charging apparatus has heretofore been patented in which an endless belt is employed for imparting a backward and forward movement to a trundle-bed on whichblooms are charged into a furnace; but such belt is not arranged for continuons revolution and is not provided with a series of looselyrevoluble rolls for supporting the 13o product; neither is it combined with mechanism for guiding the product into the furnace, nor generally constructed for operating in a manner similar to the operation of my im- If in any 75 proved charging apparatus hereinbefore described.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In billet-charging apparatus, the combination of an endless-belt carrier, whereon the billets are received and supported, having a barrier for projecting the billets forward into the heating-fnrnace, with belt supporting and actuating wheels, and an operating shaft, whereby said carrier is propelled by constant forward movement, substantially as set forth.

' 2. The endlessbelt carrier having a series of loosely-revoluble rollers andan abutment or barrier for engaging and advancing the billets, respectively supported by bearings that are linkedtogether asv a chain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a heating-furnace, of a billet-charging mechanism consisting of an endless traveling belt or carrier for projecting forward the billets, guide-rolls for directing the billet into the mouth of the furnace, and means for operating said belt, substantially as set forth.

4. In a billetecharging apparatus, the combination of an endless-belt carrier composed of series of bearers orrollers linked together, whereon the billets or bars are supported, and a transverse barrier or flange for engaging and advancing the billets, guiding-rolls, as T T', disposed to direct the billet into the door of the furnace and sustain it elevated from the furnace-bottom, and means for imparting n1otion to said endlessbelt carrier and guiderolls, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a billet charging apparatus, an endlessbelt carrier or chargingway consisting of a roller-belt provided with a barrier or flange for engaging and advancing the billets into the furnace, in combination with a feeder or delivering-way, whereby the billets are delivered onto said carrier, and means for imparting motion to said carrierbelt, for thepurposc set forth.

6. Inan apparatus for charging billets and bars into heating-furnaces,a hood or cover that incloses the billet or product upon the carrier during the charging operation, for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus for charging billets or bars into a 4heating-furnace, the combination of a movable carrier, by which the billets are advanced into the furnace, and a stationary hood or cover inclosing said billets while on said carrier, for the purpose set forth.

8. An apparatus for charging billets or bars into a heating-furnace, having a movable carrier, by which the billets or bars are propelled forward, a stationary inclosingcase or boired frame along the chargingway, and a removable hood for covering said carrier and pro tecting the product, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparat-us for charging billets or bars, a revolubleendlessbeltcarrier, by which the billets are propelled forward, in combination with guidingrolls for directing the billets into the furnace, a feeder or delivery-way, whereby the billets or bars are delivered to said carrier, and an inclosing hood or casing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, with the delivery-bed and the endlessibelt carrier having the barrier C, for engaging the product, of an automatical ly-movable guard disposed at thejnnction of said delivery-bed and carrier, for the purpose Y set forth.

Il. In an apparatus for delivering andcharging billets or bars into heatingfurnaces, an inclosed passage through which the billet is delivered for inclosing the product while being delivered upon said carrier, in combination with a chargingcarrier provided with a hood or cover for iinaintaining the heat of the pro duct during the charging operation.

fitness my hand this 20th day of December, A. D. 1887.

FRED H. DANIELS.

Witnesses:

(JI-Las. H. BURLErGH, ELLA P. BLENUs. 

